Rhodenticutachusetts

Evidence is rolling in from all sides that this country is in worsening financial shape. Having just sent in the family taxes (married filing jointly for the first time), I'm all full of brilliant ideas for saving money. If we're seriously looking to protect the national bottom line, I have a suggestion:

Fewer states.

Let's start the belt-tightening by merging a few of those little funny-shaped ones in the upper right-hand corner. The savings on administrative costs alone would make it worthwhile.

And if that's still not enough, we can open the bidding to foreign companies to operate a few states. Maybe one or two of the big square ones well inland. Nothing we'd miss if they went belly-up.